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Director's Intent: Kaleidescape 4K
The Greatest Showman
David Vaughn  |  Aug 22, 2023

Picture
Sound
Kaleidescape Scenes
Extras
The Greatest Showman is a musical inspired by the life of Phineas Tayler “P.T.” Barnum, creator of the world famous (and now defunct) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. It’s the story of how an ambitious and imaginative entertainer rises from humble beginnings to become a showbiz pioneer and one of the best looking and sounding movies available on home video.
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A/V Veteran
Music, Movies, and the Classics
Thomas J. Norton  |  Aug 22, 2023
Inspiration for a blog can come from any number of places. In the August/September print edition of Sound & Vision, Ken C. Pohlmann writes about the issues involved in cataloging classical music for access on music streaming sites.

Classical music as a category is a catch-all term for compositions originally played in front of a live audience. Most such music is a century or more old, but adventurous composers are still writing it today. It's similar to modern "popular" music (rock, country, metal, and more) mainly in the fact that it's now experienced more from recordings than viewed and heard live. The late J. Gordon Holt, founder of our sister publication, Stereophile didn't, as far as I know, deprecate popular music, but was a strong proponent of well-recorded classical music, viewing it as the only genre fully suited for judging audio gear. Was he right?

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The Gawker
I’m Going to Miss DVD.com When it Closes its Doors
Michael Antonoff  |  Aug 21, 2023
The announcement by Netflix that it would stop mailing out DVDs changed my behavior. I now regularly race to a street mailbox before its 9 a.m. pickup to return a disc I received the previous day. The sooner the company gets it back, the quicker it will send out the next title in my ever-expanding queue.
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Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
John Wick: Chapter 4
Ralph C. Potts  |  Aug 21, 2023
Picture
Sound
Extras

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the latest installment in the popular action film series starring Keanu Reeves in the titular role. This story picks up with John on his way to uncovering a path to finally defeat The High Table, to whom he is beholden for his past choices. But before he can earn his freedom, he must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe, turning old friends into foes.

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Audio Video NewsNew Products
More News & Gear for Summer 2023
Bob Ankosko  |  Aug 17, 2023
The volume of AV news and product announcements is picking up as summer winds down and home entertainment companies set their sights on Labor Day specials, CEDIA Expo 2023 (watch for our preview in early September), and, ultimately, a holiday selling season that can make or break a brand’s financial standing for the year. Let’s have a look…
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SmartStream
Downloading Movies To Go
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 17, 2023
A lack of internet connection doesn't mean a lack of entertainment options. Most streaming services offer the option to download content to watch offline when you are off-grid or dealing with spotty service areas like airplanes, subway tunnels and mountain passes.
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Bluetooth Speaker Reviews
Sony XV800 X-Series Bluetooth Portable Party Speaker Review
Mark Henninger  |  Aug 16, 2023

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $650

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Works upright and on its side
Omnidirectional sound
25 hour battery life
Light show & karaoke
Charge other devices using its battery
Minus
Poorly designed wheels and handle

THE VERDICT
Sony's party speaker impresses with its sound quality and features but its wheels and handle make it difficult to move around.

Is there room for a party speaker in your life? How about this question instead: do you like to have fun? If so, then the answer is yes! This sometimes scorned category stands out in my experience because in recent years, whenever I see people having a good time with music, more often than not it's been some sort of lifestyle, entertainment-friendly, wireless, portable speaker dishing out the tunes. A party speaker.

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Music Reviews
Remaster Class – Tears for Fear: Songs From The Big Chair
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 15, 2023
Tears For Fears vaulted into the international big leagues with the take-no-prisoners layered-sound approach to their February 1985 sophomore album, Songs From The Big Chair. It was a calculated production leap from the aural cocoon of their more minimalistic, electronic-leaning debut, March 1982’s The Hurting — and it was a move that paid off handsomely with multi-platinum sales and upper-echelon chart domination around the globe.
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Audio Video NewsNew Products
Technics Adds Active Noise Cancellation to Entry-Level Wireless Earbuds
Bob Ankosko  |  Aug 15, 2023
Technics has updated the entry-level model in its line of high-performance wireless earbuds with the addition of noise cancellation and new features to improve connectivity and fit.
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EISA Awards
EISA Home Theater Audio & Video Awards 2023-2024
SV Staff  |  Aug 14, 2023
EISA, or the Expert Imaging and Sound Association, is an organisation representing 58 of the most respected special interest publications and websites from 29 countries that cover Hi-Fi, Home Theater Video, Home Theater Audio, Photography, Mobile Devices, and In-Car Electronics. Every year EISA's Expert Group members, including editors from this publication, test a very wide range of new products from their field of expertise before comparing results and voting to decide on the cream of every product category.
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